Presto: Christie - our very own midfield maestro. He's been so impressive this season and has been sorely missed recently. Throughly deserves all the recognition he is getting.
Jim: Without a doubt, Christie controls every game he plays with his tenacity. Without him, we are average.
Richard: Ryan has been so good even with his injury. How we've missed him since his operation.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League home games against Leicester, winning the past three by an aggregate score of 10-4.
Leicester have opened the scoring in each of their past three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 27. The most recent time they did this in four straight games was in October 2022, with the fourth game in that run coming against Bournemouth.
Iraola on Scott's injury, 'finishing with a win' and Kerkez situationpublished at 15:23 23 May
15:23 23 May
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Sunday's final game of the Premier League season against Leicester City (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
In of injury news, Alex Scott returned to training today and is wearing a mask to protect his fractured jaw. The midfielder's availability will be assessed tomorrow. A late call will also be made on James Hill's fitness.
It is "very important" to finish in the top 10 after missing out on securing European football this season: "I want to finish with a win. I want to finish a very good season feeling that we have done something good."
On the importance of taking three points against already-relegated Leicester City: "I will choose the team that I think will give us more guarantees to perform well and win. For me, it is a very important game."
The Cherries go into their final game of the season three points better off away from home than at home this season, so he would like to "level this up at least" and "finish as the team deserves" after a much-improved season.
Asked about only losing to Manchester City and Liverpool by more than one goal on aggregate in the Premier League this season, he responded: "When we haven't been at our very best, we have always thought we have a chance. We have been in games until the very end and I think that's something that speaks very well of the team. I hope we can keep this up for next season."
Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan spell and any permanent deal will be "a matter of negotiating with him and with Chelsea". He added that the goalkeeper's "character and experience" has been "very valuable" this season.
Bournemouth currently have three first-team goalkeepers on their books - Mark Travers, Neto and Alex Paulsen - so there will "definitely be changes in that position" over the summer.
There are plenty of transfer rumours surrounding Milos Kerkez but he confirmed that the defender's situation has not changed: "There is nothing concrete that I know. He has performed really well this season. I understand that there could be rumours and teams that will be wanting to sign him, but we are really happy with him. I don't have any news on him."
However Iraola believes that once the transfer market opens, outgoing transfers "aren't in your hands a lot of the time".
Despite his wingers picking up various injury problems this season, Iraola is "very happy with their level and performance" and does not feel it is an area he needs to strengthen in the summer transfer window.
Ideally he would like to have four wingers fit for every game next season, with the idea being "two to start, two to finish". Luis Sinisterra has had "a very bad season in of injuries" and Enes Unal picked up a serious ACL injury so having both of them fit next season will be "really important".
'Willo so popular with fans and will be missed' - Templepublished at 09:56 23 May
09:56 23 May
Kris Temple Former BBC Radio Solent commentator
The stories from the 22 years I spent commentating on AFC Bournemouth matches with Willo (John Williams), who is retiring as BBC Radio Solent's football pundit, would need their own book.
Eddie Howe played under Willo in his early days at AFCB, and you only have to see the warmth that Eddie, and other team-mates, have always had towards him to tell you what kind of guy he is. We used to be the only media allowed to travel on the Bournemouth team plane to northern games - simply because of the respect Eddie had for Willo.
He was alongside me for such a significant part of my life and was a brilliant ally and partner in crime. John understood the role and decided he was going to be unfailingly positive. Bournemouth as a town and a club has been a huge part of his life - one that he absolutely loves and will continue to do so.
Putting the wrong fuel in the car, getting lost in his native Liverpool, watching him on a slingshot ride on Blackpool Pier, trying to crowbar him into Everton's cosy press box, boarding a packed train to West Ham without him and countless dodgy quizzes with suspect or incomplete answers. It's been a ride.
Like a lot of couples who have spent two decades together, we had our moments bickering. My commentator's attention to detail drove him mad.
He's not an internet , or a savvy mobile phone operator. He doesn't do data and relies on his ex-professional's footballing eye. He loves nothing more than seeing a homegrown youngster progress and would clamour for them to play.
Willo is so popular with Bournemouth fans, particularly those who watched him play in the late 80s. If our motorway stop accidentally coincided with an AFCB ers' coach, after a few chants of "Willo, Willo, Willo" from the KFC queue, John decided he preferred staying with the car than be embarrassed by the attention.
Everything has to come to an end. I know Willo has given this plenty of thought and will hugely miss the job. The listeners (which include myself now) will certainly miss him.
Listen to John's final game as summariser on BBC Radio Solent from 16:00 BST on Sunday as he s Jordan Clark for Bournemouth v Leicester
🎧 John 'Willo' Willams hangs up his mic after 23 yearspublished at 14:31 22 May
14:31 22 May
Image source, BBC Radio Solent
The latest episode of Cherries: Unpicked is dedicated to commentator, John Williams (aka Willo), who retires this weekend after 23 years in the press box for BBC Radio Solent.
Jordan Clark and Willo chat in the dressing room at Vitality Stadium with special guests including Eddie Howe, Harry Redknapp and Sean O'Driscoll.
Pick your Bournemouth player of the seasonpublished at 16:25 21 May
16:25 21 May
Tom Jordan Fan writer
We asked our Bournemouth fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.
Ryan Christie
Christie is the man who makes Bournemouth tick - the unsung hero of the side, if you will. As the key cog in the Cherries' aggressive press, it has been evident when Ryan has been out of the side. A machine for Andoni Iraola's men.
Justin Kluivert
The void left by Dom Solanke's departure meant Bournemouth needed someone to step up with goals, and Justin has done just that. The current leading scorer, Kluivert has taken his game to another level at times, which has included two hat-tricks as well!
Lewis Cook
Lewis is definitely Bournemouth's 'Mr Consistent' and has rightly worn the captain's armband on many occasions. The composed playmaker has had to adapt to a right full-back position for a large part of the season, and he has unsurprisingly impressed in the role.
Tyler Adams
The Cherries' defensive numbers have improved this campaign and Adams is one of the key reasons for this. A fit-and-firing Tyler is the glue in the middle of the park, who must be a nuisance to play against. He relishes those midfield battles and suffocating his opponents.
Honourable mentions
Frankly, this could frankly be the rest of the squad as it has been an impressive team effort this season. Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi have been rocks, Milos Kerkez has been one of the league's top left-backs, Antoine Semenyo has been electrifying, Kepa Arrizabalaga has been an upgrade in goal, and Evanilson's first season has also been excellent.
'Iraola must shuffle his pack one last time this season'published at 12:39 21 May
12:39 21 May
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty Images
After Bournemouth's faint hopes of playing in Europe next season were finally extinguished on a balmy east Manchester evening, fans could have been forgiven for raising their eyebrows at what the opposition manager had to say afterwards.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola bemoaned the size of his squad – in that it is too big, and he hates having to disappoint so many players by leaving them out.
Most opponents would look on with envy at City's bench on Tuesday evening with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and £100m g Jack Grealish among those substitutes brought on, while England regular Phil Foden and former Cherries favourite Nathan Ake were among those not called upon.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will have the opposite problem this weekend as his team wrap up their season against Leicester at Vitality Stadium.
With the Cherries still battling for a top-half finish, Iraola is close to running out of central midfielders, after Lewis Cook's red card against City earned him a suspension.
With Cook unavailable, Ryan Christie's groin surgery and Alex Scott's fractured jaw (courtesy of Tyrone Mings' elbow), it has left Tyler Adams, who himself has had to battle plenty of injuries in his two years in Dorset, as the last man standing in the middle of the park.
With the Foxes already relegated and the road to Europe now blocked, there will be less overt pressure on Iraola's side on Sunday, though the owners will not need reminding how every place in the Premier League is worth several million pounds in prize money.
So Iraola must shuffle his pack one last time this season, with the identity of Adams' midfield partner the most interesting selection.
Marcus Tavernier and David Brooks have occasionally filled deeper, central roles when the Cherries have been flinging everyone forward in search of late goals, but rather than field a wide player or defender out of position, it could be an ideal opportunity if Iraola feels young midfielder Ben Winterburn from the development squad is ready for a first Premier League start.
Man City 3-1 Bournemouth - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:58 21 May
09:58 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's defeat by Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.
Here are some of your comments:
Matt: Out of steam after a long season with a thin squad. Proud of all we have achieved. Hopefully the top-half finish is still in reach. Strength in depth required as we build the squad for 2025-26. Never a red card for Lewis Cook. The game is gone.
Peyer: Very poor by the Cherries. We seem to have lost the power and pace we played with earlier in the season. City deserved winners - no problem with either sending off. If we finish 11th or 12th it will have been a great season. Will be there to cheer the boys on Sunday. Up the Cherries.
James: We never really got into the game. We had a few moments but after the first goal it was always going to be an uphill battle as we struggle to break teams down that sit behind the ball. Frustrated that we couldn't keep our heads after they went down to 10 at 2-0. One goal and we would have been right back in the game but after Cook's red the defeat was inevitable. End of our Euro dream (for now). Difficult Tuesday night but also the best season ever!
Geoff: Another poor performance from Bournemouth. Midfield non-existent in the first half. The season has just run away, with just a whimper. A very disappointing watch yet again!
Paul: They were all off the pace from the start. Nothing to play for now before the game and they don't want to get injured to ruin any potential transfers they have in their minds. Some have had this mindset for weeks now and it's ruined what could have been a season for all time. Priority is to keep hold of Andoni Iraola going into the close season and extend his contract. He will clean house and shake us up ready for 2025-26.
'We needed to be at our very, very best to beat City'published at 08:40 21 May
08:40 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola told BBC Match of the Day: "We would have loved even to take it to the last game [a chance of Europe], even with some possibilities. We knew that it was today very difficult because it was not only this result, we needed a lot more.
"I don't think we've been bad, we needed to be at our very, very best to beat City today because I think they started the game very focused. I think they even rested some players the other day, thinking that today was big for them. You could see from the beginning that it was going to be tough."
The Cherries boss added: "In these kinds of stadiums, against this kind of opposition, you need the key moments to go to your side.
"Evanilson hit the post which could have made it 1-1, and then also the second red card when we were in a good situation with time to play against 10 players, instead straight away it is 10 against 10 and everything goes even.
"I think our red card, you have to understand it. Lewis arrived, it was not a 50-50 ball, he arrives first and then tries to pull out, and this pulling out probably makes it look worse because he raises his foot and the is higher.
"If you go maybe more strong it will be more dangerous for Nico, harder, but maybe not a red card. You have to understand the game.
"Lewis wins the ball clear, it is a clear tackle and then he tries to pull out so I don't think it should be a red, but I understand also why he takes that decision."
Did you know?
Daniel Jebbison's consolation for Bournemouth was their 13th goal scored via a substitute in the Premier League this season, with only Fulham (17) netting more from the bench this term.
Gossip: Man City will rival Liverpool for Kerkezpublished at 07:53 21 May
'Huijsen's success is testament to all areas of the club'published at 12:36 20 May
12:36 20 May
Sam Davis Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
They say you should never fall in love with a loan player. This season, the same might be said for our permanent gs too, as Dean Huijsen, after just one campaign at Bournemouth, is moving to Real Madrid for £50m.
It feels like yesterday that we watched the Cherries entertain Los Blancos in a pre-season friendly, a fixture boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil. While the game itself was, perhaps aptly, a "white-washing", who knew that just over a decade later we would be supplying their stars of the future.
At the time we signed him, he was hotly tipped as a player of the future - tall, combative, comfortable with the ball at his feet, but also, someone who likes to get up the pitch and score goals too.
With a solid defensive partnership of Marcos Senesi and Illiya Zabarnyi, it was not really known what impact he would have during his first season, but everything changed when Marcos picked up an injury against Wolves in November.
Huijsen lived up to the hype.
When he leaves, Huijsen will have clocked up no more than 30 league appearances, meaning that, once Juve's sell-on fee is settled, he will have made Bournemouth £1m for each match he played.
In hindsight, it feels like £50m is a steal, but the fact is, how did we know how good he would end up being?
His success is testament to all areas of the club. For Bill Foley investing the money in the club, for our recruitment for finding him, and for Andoni Iraola - whose job has been remarkable.
There have not been many players who have been so influential in such a short time at AFCB, but Huijsen leaves the club with all Bournemouth fans fully behind him.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Bournemouthpublished at 09:17 20 May
09:17 20 May
This is not a must-win game for Manchester City's top-five hopes but they could really do with a victory here.
Four points from their past two games against Bournemouth and Fulham will almost certainly see City finish in the Champions League places because of their goal difference, but their home form is much better than their results on the road and they certainly will not want to go to Craven Cottage on the final day needing a win.
Mind you, this game will not be straightforward for City either. Bournemouth have already beaten them once this season and ran them close in the FA Cup quarter-finals too, so we know they can cause them problems.
City's home form has been much more reliable of late, however, with four wins at Etihad Stadium in a row, and that is the main reason I am backing them here.
It is Kevin de Bruyne's final match at the Etihad, but City are going to have to play well to give him the send-off he deserves, and they need him to perform too.
De Bruyne has been a phenomenal player for City and it would be fitting if he can say farewell with a goal or one of his trademark assists.
Image source, Getty Images
